As noted previously, US steel prices have settled at higher levels after rising sharply in the first quarter. However, the rises in US steel producers’ first-quarter earnings weren’t commensurate with the sharp gains in spot steel prices. The disconnect isn’t difficult to explain. There’s a lag between steel companies booking their sales and the steel getting shipped to the buyer.

Does the US Steel Industry Look Healthy This Month? President Donald Trump has exempted several regions from the stringent Section 232 tariffs that were imposed on national security grounds. While countries such as Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Germany managed to get exemptions, Japan was a notable exception.

Does the US Steel Industry Look Healthy This Month? The Section 232 temporary exemptions that were extended by President Donald Trump on April 30 are set to expire by the end of this month. As quoted by CNBC, the statement on the exemptions said, “The Administration is also extending negotiations with Canada, Mexico, and the European Union for a final 30 days.” By stating the word “final,” the Trump administration seems to have put pressure on the exempted countries.

Steel demand is among the key indicators investors should track. The construction and automotive sectors are the two largest steel end consumers. In this article, we’ll discuss how US steel demand is shaping up.

As noted previously, spot steel prices have risen sharply this year and are currently at their highest level since 2011. Steel companies including AK Steel (AKS), Nucor (NUE), and ArcelorMittal (MT) expect their second-quarter earnings to rise sequentially as higher steel prices flow into their spot sales. U.S. Steel (X) also expects its earnings to rise in the second quarter.

As noted previously, U.S. Steel (X) is trading flat for the year. To be sure, steel market conditions had set the stage for a smart rally in steel stocks. To put things in perspective, US steel prices are currently at their highest level since 2011.

U.S. Steel (X) is having a dismal run this year. The stock is trading roughly flat for the year based on May 21 closing prices. The picture also looks scary for AK Steel (AKS), which has seen a negative price action of 21.2% so far in the year. Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) are trading with year-to-date gains of 3.2% and 17.5%, respectively. The SPDR S&P Metals and Mining ETF (XME) has gained 3.5% so far in 2018.

US steel stocks (XME) U.S. Steel Corporation (X) and AK Steel (AKS) are trading sharply higher today. Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) are also in the green. We saw a selling spree in US steel stocks yesterday as markets feared that China could also be exempt from the Section 232 steel tariffs.

In this article, we’ll look at the weekly US steel production data released by the AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute). According to AISI data, US steel production rose 1.7% YoY (year-over-year) in the week that ended on May 12.

The first-quarter earnings season for US steel investors is largely over. Steel companies, including U.S. Steel Corporation (X), AK Steel (AKS), and Nucor (NUE), have released their first-quarter earnings results. U.S. Steel saw a selling spree after its earnings release, as its 2018 guidance and outlook didn’t go over well with the market.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday slapped steep import duties on steel products from Vietnam that originated in China after a final finding they evaded U.S. anti-dumping and anti-subsidy orders. The decision marked a victory for U.S. steelmakers, who won anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties against Chinese steel in 2015 and 2016 only to see shipments flood in from elsewhere. U.S. customs authorities will collect anti-dumping duties of 199.76 percent and countervailing duties of 256.44 percent on imports of cold-rolled steel produced in Vietnam using Chinese-origin substrate, the Commerce Department said in a statement.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday slapped steep import duties on steel products from Vietnam that originated in China after a final finding they evaded U.S. anti-dumping and anti-subsidy orders. U.S. ...

US stocks are trading higher today following constructive US-China trade talks. Notably, US-China trade friction has been among the key factors driving markets lower this year. While broader market indices including the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) are in the green today, steel stocks are taking a beating. U.S. Steel Corporation (X) and AK Steel (AKS) are down sharply. Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) are also trading lower.

Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) stock has been on a roller coaster ride for most of 2018. While CLF stock has seen a lot of volatility in 2018, it’s making a strong upward move in the second quarter on strong fundamentals.

President Trump extended the temporary Section 232 exemptions until the end of this month. As quoted by CNBC, the statement on the exemptions said, “The Administration is also extending negotiations with Canada, Mexico, and the European Union for a final 30 days. South Korea has managed to get a long-term exemption from the Section 232 tariffs.

Previously in this series, we compared steel companies’ 1Q18 shipments and ASPs (average selling price). In this article, we’ll take a look at their 1Q18 EBITDAs (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization).